Traditional Marshalls court revived

After a year with no judges and land disputes piling up, a Traditional Rights Court in the Marshall Islands has been reactivated with new appointments by the Government.

It has taken four attempts by the Judicial Service Commission over the past 17 months to get Cabinet action, with court appointments derailed by leadership battles, multiple votes of no confidence and a change of government in September.

The most recent set of recommendations for appointments produced a result with the Cabinet naming three judges to fill the vacancies this week.

The Traditional Rights Court is one of three courts in the Marshall Islands and plays a central role in deciding land and customary title disputes, which often involve large rental payments to landowners.